A new industry body, the Chamber of Trade and Industries (CTI) — a brainchild of the AAP’s trade wing — is taking shape in Delhi.

Office-bearers of AAP’s trade wing say the initiative is an attempt to provide a platform to small traders and owners of small-scale industrial units in the city.

Brijesh Goyal, Convenor of AAP’s trade wing, said this section of traders does not get adequate representation in big industry bodies such as FICCI, CII and PHD Chamber of Commerce.

“The small traders are left out and are unable to find a platform to raise their concerns and demands. Though the city has many trade associations, they are restricted to particular markets and market hubs. There was need to have a pan-Delhi association. While some organisations work for traders, others work for the industry separately. CTI will work for trade and industry both,” said Goyal.

A large part of the trading community has been a vote bank of the Bharatiya Janata Party. After coming to power, AAP’s trade wing has been active in organising the traders and taking up their cause with the government even as the authorities are cracking down to plug tax evasion.

AAP leaders, however, did not associate any political interest behind the initiative. Goyal said they were making all efforts to make CTI a ‘non-political’ body.

“Though we have invited traders associated with other political parties to join CTI, its functioning will remain completely non-political. We are making all efforts to bring political leaders belonging to different political parties holding key positions in different governments on the same platform when it is launched formally,” said Goyal.

The CTI has been registered and is likely to be launched formally in the first week of August.

 Source: Hindustan Times